A MAN with an aggressive form of dementia has become the first person in the world to benefit from a revolutionary treatment developed by a North-East GP.

Three weeks after he flew to the UK to be treated using a prototype light-emitting helmet - invented by County Durham GP Dr Gordon Dougal - American Clem Fennell's family are amazed at the progress he has made.

Vickey Fennell, 55, from North Kentucky, said: "My husband, Clem, was fading away. It is as if he is back. His personality has started to show again. We are absolutely thrilled."

The couple decided to travel to County Durham after four US neurologists told them there was no effective treatment available that would stop Mr Fennell's mental decline.

Experts had diagnosed that the father-of-two, who is head of a family engineering firm, Process Construction, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was suffering from an aggressive form of dementia.

Before the twice-a-day treatment with healing light rays, the 57-year-old former college athlete was unable to answer the telephone.

But after three weeks, he has overcome that difficulty, can hold conversations and can go shopping on his own.

Mr Fennell is the first patient to be treated using the helmet, but Dr Dougal believes that the experimental device could eventually help many thousands of dementia sufferers.

"Potentially, this is hugely significant," said Dr Dougal, who is based in Easington.

In January, The Northern Echo broke the news that the North-East medic had developed a new way to combat dementia, a feared degenerative brain disease which affects millions of Britons.

In February, a report about Dr Dougal's invention - a helmet featuring 700 light-emitting diodes designed to stimulate neurons in the brain - was seen on CBS television news by friends of the Fennells.

Dr Dougal built the prototype in his home laboratory after experiments with laser therapy helped to slow down his father-in-law's dementia

Mrs Fennell said: "We decided to try to track Dr Dougal down. A friend was able to phone him. We asked him if he could see us and he said 'yes'. We came over at the end of March. We just felt there wasn't any choice for us."

The couple brought test results, including MRI scans, to show the GP.

"He told us he thought Clem was a good candidate for a clinical trial he is setting up. We were thrilled," she added.

The Fennells went back home, but when Mr Fennell's condition began to deteriorate, they begged Dr Dougal to start the treatment immediately.

"He said to come right away. We came on June 14. He did an assessment using compute tests and started treatment with the helmet the same day," she added.

"Honestly, I can tell you that within ten days the deterioration stopped. Then we started to see improvements. He started to respond to people more quickly when they talked to him. He started to converse again, which he was not doing before."

Three weeks on the gradual improvements are continuing.

Mr Fennell's daughter, 22-year-old Maggie, said: "When we go to the restaurant we usually have to order his meals for him. Now he is ordering himself."

Mrs Fennell said: "Now we are okay about letting him go to the bank or the post office. He would not have been able to do that on his own three weeks ago.

"Dr Dougal has been like a godsend to us. There was nothing out there to help Clem until now," she added.

Dr Dougal stressed that a full, clinically-controlled trial would be needed before the anti-dementia helmet could be licensed for public use.

This is being organised and, once approval is gained, the trial is expected to start later this year.

"I made it clear to the Fennells that I didn't know for a fact whether this worked, but the results are good. He was monosyllabic when I first saw him, but if I ring up now he will answer the phone. He didn't have the verbal skills to do that three weeks ago," the GP added.

In 2005 researchers at Sunderland University confirmed that infra-red light with a specific wavelength of 1072 nanometers has a measurable, positive effect on human immune cells, also known as lymphocytes, which play a vital role in the healing process.

"The great thing is that this treatment is non-invasive. It wouldn't do any harm," said Dr Dougal.

The Fennells have been told they can take the prototype helmet back to the US with them so they can continue the treatment at home.

Dr Dougal estimates that commercially available helmets, which include 700 LEDs, will cost about £10,000, but should last for years